Mail-bag-catching device.



JOI-IN ELLSWORTH SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

MAIL-BAG-CATCHING DEVICE.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN ELLswoRTH SMITH, a citizen of the United States, a resident of No. 65 South Valley street, Kansas City, in the county of Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in a Mail-Bag-Catchin Devicewviz., a reversing attachment an holder.

This invention concerns the reversing of the position of catching device shown in my Patent #824388 dated June 26, 1906, of record without removing the device from its supporting sockets on the side of the car, and without supporting the entire weight of the device with the hands while the reverse is made. This result is accomplished by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 represents a general view of the reversing arrangement independent of the catcher. In Fig. 2 the same view is reproduced and in addition, sufiicient of the catcher to show the connection.

All the stated dimensions are approximate.

The supporting bar, a b, is steel and is one inch square, except at either end, where a suflicient portion to carry the buffers and to be inserted into the car sockets, is made round. It is provided with a notch i as represented and also a corresponding notch on the b end in which the spring f rests. Its lpngtli will depend` upon the width of the car oor.

The buffers c c are slidably located on the bar a b as represented, and will be either coiled steel or rubber.

The tenon holders d d are duplicates. They are steel and the upper portion or head is open and square and is adjustably attached to a b by a set screw. The lower part or body is provided with a round tenoned groove.

The swivel e e is slidably connected with the square portion of the bar a b, and the top is provided with an opening for the curve of the spring f. The lower part e is solidly attached to the modified shank B, of A B in said Patent #824388. The adjacent parts of e e are provided with suflicient and smooth bearing surfaces to prevent irregular movements when a reverse is made.

The spring f is solidly attached to the e part of the swivel, and it is provided with suflicient curve to engage the notches i t.

The tenon tail g is solidly attached to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 7. 1907. Serial No. 351.137.

Patented Dec. 3, 190'?.

bar A. B. in said Patent #824388, at the point indicated. It is, with the connected action oit' the swivel e e', slidably insertible into the grooves of d d; and when it is so inserted, the result is practically a solid connection.

The handle h will be solidly attached to the square portion of a b at the point indicated. A catch is arranged on the inside of the car which engages the handle and holds the device in the required position to take a pouch from a crane.

It will be noted that the modifications, herewith indicated in the bar A B and its connections in said Patent #824388, can with convenience be made. Detachable provisions on the bar proper will not have to be made. The handle L is not needed in that position, and the shank B can be' shortened and modiiied for its connection with the swivel e e. There is no change whatever in the working claims of the catcher, except that supplied by the reversing arrangement.

To reverse the catcher, raise the spring f and push e e forward until gis free from the groove in d; then swing A end around into line with a b; support A end so that g will engage the groove in d and push e e backward until spring f drops into notch i, which locks it in position on the bar a b.

I claim,-

1. A bar having a square body, carrying the heads of tenon bodies, adjustably attached near each end as shoulders, limiting the sliding movement of said bar, the ends thereof fitted to engage buffers and sockets, the apex angle as shown vertically recesses near each shoulder to engage a spring locking device, a handle near one end rigidly attached at right angles to said bar.

2. A bar having a square body, carryingthe heads of tenon bodies adjustably attached near each end as shoulders, the apex angle as shown vertically recessed near each shoulder to engage a spring locking device, a

yswivel head, carrying a spring locking device,

bar With tenon holders, having square heads adjustably attached to the supporting bar, and having bodies With tenoned grooves for the purpose described.

4. The combination in a reversing attachment for a mail bag catcher of a supporting bar and tenon holders With a tenon tail7 slidably insertible into the tenon holders.

`5. The combination in a reversing attachment for a mail bag catcher of a supporting 10 bar and a swivel with a' spring; said swivel having an opening in its top provided for the action of sald s ring in engaging notches on the supporting ar.

' JNO. ELLSWORTH SMITH. Witnesses:

F. FJCLARK, J. A. BUTTERFIELD. 

